Annunciator.



L. M.-.|EWELL.

ANNUNCIATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEc. Ia. 1916.

Patented July 31 2 SHEETS-SHEET I;

I NVENTEIR: Lorna; PT. Jewell 15%auu4%%U/1Zn .Her Attornzy- "E QFFICE.

LORNA :Ll/L JEWELL, OF LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ANNUNCIATOR.

Application filed December 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, LoRNA M. JnwnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Annunciator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention pertains to annunciators, and has particular reference to an organization of elements effective for displaying a series of characters for signaling or recording purposes as maybe desired.

This invention is applicable to vehicles of any type, such as motor buses and street railway cars, for indicating approaching street intersections, or approaching railway stations.

rlihe object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices, whereby they will not only be cheapened in'construction, but will be more efficient in use, and positive and automatic in their action.

Heretofore, as is well known, it is customary for the conductor of a street railway car to call the approaching street intersection, and, under this practice, only a portion of the passengers are aware of the announcement, with the result that some are inadvertently carried beyond their destina-- tion.

My object is to overcome this objection, and to this end I have provided an annunciator box in which are mounted two reels, a ribbon to wind from one reel to another, and a spring motor mechanism therefor, together with an electric control, whereby consecutive sections of the ribbon are made to register with an opening in the box, to dis- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

serial No. 137,595.

a02-m2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse midsection on line fc3-m3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of the bottom of a measuring drum. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the wiring and electrical parts for one annunciator operated from two points of control. Fig. 6 is a fragmental view of the box in section on line :v6- of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line @c7-c7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the rocker which actuates the clutch. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the switch which automatically closes the circuit. Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of the brake member.

Referring to the drawings, the annunciator system forming the subject matter hereof comprises a box or housing 15, having front wall 16, rear wall 17, side walls 18, top 19, and bottom 20, to inclose the electric and mechanical operative elements, with an opening 21 in front, provided with a transparent closure 22, preferably of mica. Within box l5, and adjacent to opening 21, is

a reflector 23 to direct the light from the electric bulb 24 upon the ribbon 25. The front, rear, and side walls are recessed to receive the top 19, and bottom 20; the bottom 2O having affixed'thereto, the vertical shafts 26, to which the top is secured by screws 27.

The reels 28 are revoluble upon shafts 26, and their position thereon is determined by sleeves 29.

A spring motor is pro-vided to actuate each reel, comprising the shaft 30, revolubly mounted in the box 15, and provided on one end with a winding socket 31, and having fixed to the opposite end a ratchet 32, rotating in synchronism with the shaft. A disk mem ber 33 is also aflixed to shaft 30 and rotates in synchronism therewith. A helical spring 34 has its upper extremity fixed to disk 33, and

its lower extremity fixed to an independently revoluble disk 35 mounted on shaft 30. The free disk 35 is provided with a hub 36, on the lower end of which is mounted a gear wheel 37. From gear wheel 57, a train of gears', comprising gear wheels 38, 39, 40, and pinions 41, 42, transmit motion to clutch 43, which is fixed to the hub 44,v of wheel 40. Clutch 43 is rotatively and slidably mounted on sleeve 29, and is faced with a ifriction 'elisir 45. eo that; when, filircerl ward by lever 46, the clutch will actuate the reel. Clutch 43 is provided with a toothed rim in constant mesh with a pinion 47 iixed to shaft 48. A brake wheel 49 is mounted on the opposite end of shaft 48. The ratchet 32 is held against the tension of spring 34, and against rotation in one direction by the pawl 50, which is pivotally mounted on a pin or stud 5l, projecting from the lug 52 on the inner side of the front wall, A leaf spring 53 holds the pawl in engagement with the ratchet.

The brake 54, in engagement with brake wheel 49, controls and stops the rotation of the reel and clutch 43, and thereby determines the movement of the ribbon. A control for the brake comprises an oscillating lever 55 pivotally mounted in lugs 56 projecting from the inner wall of the box; the lever 55 having a plunger 57 pivotally attached thereto, and actuated by the solenoid 58. A rocker 59 is mounted in trunnion lugs 60 projecting from the bottom plate 20, and is provided with an arm 61. Rocker 59 is in constant engagement with lever 46, and is actuated by a link 62 connecting the arm 6l with lever 55. The brake 54 is in engagement with a slot 63 formed in the lever 55, so that, when the solenoid is energized and plunger 57 moved downward, the brake will be released, while at the same time the rocker 59, actuated, through link 62, will in turn actuate clutch lever 46 and throw the clutch into engagement with the reel.

The ribbon 25, which is preferably black and opaque, is provided at regular intervals with characters, in this case being consecutive numbers, and passes over measuring drums 64, each of which is provided with sprocket teeth 65, which engage with corresponding holes 66 in the ribbon. Drums 64 are independently revoluble upon the spring motors. Each drum is provided on its upper edge with a groove 67, normally in engagement with pawls 68 fixed to the rock-shaft 69, the rock-shaft being journaled in the end walls of the box.

Leaf springs 7 O hold pawls 68 in engagement with grooves 67 and for releasing the pawls, the rock-shaft is provided with lever arms 7l, which are actuated by links 62. The release of the measuring drums, the release of the brake, and the shifting of the clutch to operative position, are all simultaneously accomplished when a corresponding solenoid is energized, Duplicate sole'- noids, and mechanism are provided, respectively, for operating the two reels, oneJ reel and its corresponding mechanism being arranged to wind the ribbon in one direction, and the other reel and its mechanism being arranged to wind the ribbon in the opposite direction.

Means for automatically completing the electric circuit to energize a solenoid during one complete revolution of the measuring drums, comprise a circular and insulated contact plate 72 upon the bottom of a measuring drum, and two switch contact members 73, 74. Contact member 73 consists of a spring having the free end 75 in constant contact with the bottom of the measuring drum, and the other end fixed to a block 76, of insulation. Contact member 74 consists of a spring fulcrumed to plate 77 which is fixed to a block 78 of insulation carried by lever 46, and having one end 79 in constant contact with a block of insulation 80 on the lug 81. The free end 82 is adjusted to normally remain out of contact with contact plate 72, but is forced into contact whenever lever 46 is actuated to shift the clutch. When pawl 68 is in engagement with groove 67, on the measuring drum, the contact members 73, 74, are in non-engagement position relative to contact plate 72.

Referring to Fig. 5 the wiring and electrical elements necessary to install and to operate the annunciator, are shown. The current of electricity enters wire conductor 83, and passes through various branches respectively, to buzzers 84, which may be l0- cated to announce to the conductor or tov the passengers of a street railway car that the signal is being changed, and to the electric bulb 24, and to the outer contact members 73 in constant contact with the bottoms of the measuring drums 64. From buzzers 84, wire conductors pass to double push button switches 85, 86, 87, 88. The method of control may be described by following the course of the current when one push button is depressed. Assuming that push button 88 is depressed, the current will pass through conductor 89 and conductor 90, to solenoid 58, and to contact member 74. The energizing of the solenoid will operate the spring motor and mechanism as before described, thereby causing the measuring drum 64 to revolve. The push button may be released, but the circuit is now maintained by contact members 73, 74, and contact plate 7 2, until a predetermined amount of ribbon has passed over the measuring drum, thereby causing a section of the ribbon to register with the opening in the box. The circuit is broken an instant prior to the enga gement of the pawls 68 with grooves 67, and, upon denergizing the solenoid, the spring 91, interposed between lug 8l and a pin 92 in the link 62 will retract the brake and the clutch to normal position.

It may be noted that one reel and its coperative mechanism will wind the ribbon in one direction while the other reel and its copcrative actuating mechanism vwill wind the ribbon in the opposite direction. While one reel is being driven by the spring motor, the other reel is released, and is free to revolve in accordance with the movement of the ribbon. The lever 46 is pivotally connected to a lug 93, on the wall of the box.

The brake wheel together with the train of gears acts in the usual manner to maintain uniform and steady rotation of the reels and the driving mechanism. The display characters are preferably transparent, and are constantly illuminated by the light from the electric bulb. The breaking of the circuit through the automatic contact members and the measuring drums, may be so adjusted that the registering of the measuring pawls with the slots in the measuring drums will coincide with the application of the brake to retard and stop the reels.

To secure even illumination of the signal characters, a ground glass plate 94 is interposed between the reflector and the ribbon,

to di'use the light.

Assuming the ribbon to be provided with display characters numbered consecutively from one to one hundred, these would register for example the streets on the outgoing trip of a street railway car, by depressing the push button switches that control one reel and its corresponding actuating mechanism, while on the return trip of the car, the other reel and its actuating mechanism consecutively display the signals in reverse order.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which is obviously susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction or arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhile the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific details, but that the means and construction comprise but one mode of putting the invention into eect, and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In an annunciator, a box having an aperture in the front wall thereof, reels revolubly mounted within the box, a ribbon connecting said reels and adapted to wind from one reel to another, serving drums revolubly mounted within the box, means for normally locking said serving drums against actuation, a spring motor mounted within each serving drum and operating independently thereof, a clutch beneath each reel. a train of gears connecting each clutch with a spring motor, a brake wheel in co operative relation with each clutch, a brake normally in vengagement with the brake wheel and locking said clutch and spring motor against actuation, and electro-magnetic means for releasing simultaneously said brake and locking means for the serving drums, and shifting the clutch into engagement with a reel whereby vsaid ribbon is moved before the display aperture.

2. In an annunciator, a box having an aperture in the front wall thereof, reels revolubly mounted within the box, a ribbon connecting said reels and having a plurality of transparent characters thereon, actuating means for the reels, said actuating means being normally locked against actuation, serving drums revolubly mounted within the box, over which the ribbon passes, locking means for the serving drums, electro-magnetic means for simultaneously releasing the serving drums and reel actuating means, a duplex push button switch to close the circuit for the electro-magnetic means, and an automatic contact switch for maintaining the closed circuit for approximately one revolution of the serving drums.

3. In an annunciator, a box having an aperture in the front thereof, reels revolubly mounted within the box, spring motors within the box, friction disk clutches independently revoluble upon the reel spindles, a train of gears operatively connecting each spring motor with a disk clutch, braking means to prevent rotation of the clutch, serving drums revolubly mounted within the box, a ribbon connecting the reels and passing over said serving drums, means for locking the drums against rotation, electromagnetic means for releasing the braking means, the spring motor, and the drum locking means, means carried by said serving drums for maintaining a closed circuit to energize the electro-magnetic means, during one revolution of said drums, and spring means to retract the brake means and drum locking means when the circuit is broken.

4L. The combination with two independently revolving reels, of a ribbon connecting said reels, clutches to actuate said reels, spring motors to actuate said clutches, measuring drums over which said ribbon passes, electro-magnetic means to release said motors and shift said clutches into operative position, and connections whereby a circuit is closed to energize the electro-magnetic means during one revolution of said measuring drums.

5. The combination with two independently revolving reels, of a ribbon connecting said reels, clutches to actuate said reels, spring motors to actuate said clutches, a brake means to stop the rotationI of said clutches and spring motor, measuring drums over which the ribbon passes, electro-magnetic means to release said brake means and shift said clutches to operative position, conm tact plates on the bottom of said drums, said position, and said brake means to operative Contact plates being adapted to close a eirposition when the circuit is broken. cuit dni-ing' approximately a complete revo- In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- 1C, lution, connections whereby a circuit is iiXed my signature, this 18th day of Novem- 5 maintained through said contaolt plate and ber, 1916.

the eleetro-maonetic means, anc retraeting springs to shif; said clutches to inoperative LORNA M' JEVELL' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

